July 20, 2024 – Bonavista Peninsula, Eastern Newfoundland Coast

Saturday morning, we drove to Trinity East and hiked the Skerwink Trail.  This 5.3 km coastal trail was named one of the top 35 walks in North America and Europe by Travel & Leisure.  We liked the “caution high cliffs” on the sign as that means beautiful overlooks!

After hiking through some of the coastal forest we came to our first overlook.

The views are amazing.

Every time we hiked to an overlook, we were not disappointed with the views - the sea stacks were beautiful.

Nancy and Tacky on the trail between overlooks.

                            A great view through the trees.

We made it to one of the high cliffs with spectacular views.

                Another wonderful view through the trees.

Tacky, Nancy and Rex hiking down from the cliffs.

 It was a good hike and “wow” the views were spectacular.  We can see why this hike is so popular.

After our hike, we drove back into Trinity and ate a picnic lunch in the park.  We then attended the Rising Tide Theatre production of The New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant.   This is an outdoor historical tour through the town of Trinity.  The pageant opened with the cast singing “The Ode to Newfoundland”. We then walked to different sites where actors told us Trinity’s history.   These are a few of the scenes from the pageant.

One clear spring morning in 1892, a herd of seals floated into the harbor on pans of ice.  200 fishermen climbed into small boats to take advantage of the unexpected bounty and rowed almost nine miles out into the bay.  Working hard to make the ice, some stripped out of the sweaters to cool off.  Then, with absolutely no warning, a bitterly cold north-eastern gale arose, spraying the men with water that froze to their bodies as they rowed.  In all, 24 men and boys died, some on route, more succumbing to exhaustion on the shore.  Outside in the churchyard, Mary Moores is unwilling to accept her husband’s fate.

The women of Newfoundland were, in many ways, the backbone of the family.  They toiled and labored in the home, in the field and in the garden.

During the 18^th century Magistrates, usually prominent merchants, were appointed by the Chief Justice and the proceedings of each of the District Courts were presented to him for review.  The magistrates dealt with crimes from gossip to murder, often keeping the interests of their own class in mind.  In the days before television, the District Court was high entertainment.  This poor woman was found guilty of gossip.

By 1832, the migratory fishery was on its way out and reformers petitioned for and were granted Responsible Government.  Elections were held and John Bingley was elected to the District of Trinity and became the first speaker of the House of Assembly.

At the end of the pageant the cast again sang “The Ode to Newfoundland”

We enjoyed this wonderful production and learning about the history of Trinity and Newfoundland.

Another great day in Newfoundland.